Web Apps
Strong Passwords
 

Jason LevyIn a world of rampant identity theft, taking a few moments to lock down your email and bank account login credentials may save you a major headache (and financial loss) down the road.  I recently read an interesting article about how predictable people are with naming conventions for usernames and passwords.  Do you have a dog?  Is his name Rover?  Let me guess.... your password at Commerce Bank is Rover?  It's not Rover?  Ok, is it your birth date, 111155?  Maybe it is what King Roland used in Space Balls, 123456?

As complex as you may think your password might be, it could probably be guessed or hacked within a few minutes.  Most people make the mistake of using the same username and password across multiple web sites.  While it is certainly easier to remember a common username and password, it potentially opens the doors for identity thieves to swiftly and easily hijack your accounts.  According to PC Mag, the most commonly used passwords are:

  • password
  • 123456
  • qwerty
  • abc123
  • letmein
  • monkey
  • myspace1
  • password1
  • link182
  • (your first name)

Exercise caution when creating passwords and don't use common dictionary words.  In addition, use special characters such as (!@#$%^&())=+?) and try to use at least eight characters.  For example, instead of using the password Rover you could use something more complex such as $prog13*.  Finally, whatever you decide upon, don't write it down and leave it on a sticky note on your monitor!

 



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